What they're earning: MLS Millionaires Revealed

The Major League Soccer Players' Union has publicised its annual salaries figures for the 2011 season.

Many were wondering just what exactly LA Galaxy were paying their new boy Robbie Keane (who recently scored his second goal), signed from Tottenham Hotspur this summer. The figures show that he is the fourth-highest earner in the division, raking in just under $3 million.

The info, released today, confirms what most people had suspected regarding the other high-rollers.

Landon Donovan comes in as fifth-highest with his $2.3 million salary, while it's Rafael Marquez, Thierry Henry and, you guessed it, David Beckham topping the wage stats this term.

The only other millionaire is Juan Pablo Angel, who was shifted to Galaxy's local rivals Chivas, to make room for Robbie Keane (as part of the 'Designated Player' rules in the MLS).


MLS Million-Earners 2011 Season:

• DAVID BECKHAM (LA Galaxy): $5,500,000.08
• THIERRY HENRY (New York Red Bulls): $5,000,000.04
• RAFAEL MARQUEZ (New York Red Bulls): $4,600,000.00
• ROBBIE KEANE (LA Galaxy): $2,917,241.40
• LANDON DONOVAN (LA Galaxy): $2,300,000.00
• JUAN PABLO ANGEL (Chivas USA): $1,000,000.00

It's alarming just how concentrated the money clearly is in the MLS, with Galaxy employing three of the highest-earners, and still paying some of Angel's wages (if the US football press is to be believed).

However, I do like the idea of the transparency of MLS wages for the fans to see. Some would argue that what players earn isn't the public's business, but a Premier League equivalent would make for interesting reading.

Another point to make is that everyone assumes the likes of David Beckham and co. are on similar contracts to Rooney or Tevez. His weekly wage works out at a converted rate of about £67,000 per week. This doesn't include his bonuses, but even so. Most of Man City's players would probably see that as meagre.

Sources: ESPN Soccernet, MLS Players Union

Philip Wright-Lewis
@P_W_L

9/11 Remembered

MLS Blighty would like to pay our respects to those who were lost ten years ago today, in the 9/11 atrocities.

As long as Britain exists, the United States will never stand alone.

Galaxy offer Beckham new deal, as London clubs circle

In the wake of the Premier League transfer window's closure, we saw just one high-profile transatlantic move.

Robbie Keane's £3.5 million switch to LA Galaxy came seemingly out of nowhere. While David Beckham was widely rumoured to be coming back the other way, no deal was done.

But the rumour mill is never quiet for long, and just days after the window shut, Becks was being linked with Premier League new-boys, Queens Park Rangers. The former England captain's contract is due to expire at the end of this MLS season in November.

QPR were the subject of a takeover in late August by Tony Fernandes, a Malaysian tycoon. As a result of their new fortunes, they signed a handful of new players, including the outspoken Twitter-addict, Joey Barton.


Fernandes then tweeted:

"I think having someone like David in the club would be great. Was always in my thoughts. Lets see."

But as we all know, if there's some speculation to be had, Harry Redknapp just has to get in on the action. In his column for The Sun, he wrote that Becks was "worth his weight in gold.

"He'd be an asset for any club. I'd have him here, that's for sure." Beckham trained with Spurs last season (right), but didn't make a permanent move.

This morning, The Metro reports that Galaxy have offered the skipper a new one-year contract extension, worth around £5.6m, which works out at around £117k per week.

The good news for Galaxy fans is that Beckham is keen on signing, if the paper is to believed. Due to the recent birth of his daughter, Harper, it is thought the Beckhams would rather keep the family in their settled California lifestyle than dragging them back to rainy old Blighty.

Neither Spurs nor QPR would be prepared to match those wages. But as the Premier League looking more exciting than ever this season, regular first team football might well tempt Becks back.

Philip Wright-Lewis
@P_W_L